Chapter 97 – Black Knight

“Black Knight!”

Everyone couldn’t help but be astonished by the appearance of the Black Knight.

The Unchain he belonged to was a terrorist group hostile to all Twelve Constellations of the Heavenly Palace.

It was as if a public enemy had appeared.

James Lee, Yoo Mirae, and even Jang Wei—three Highest-Rank Awakeners—glared at the Black Knight in combat stance.

However, the Black Knight paid no attention to them whatsoever and only looked at Lee Hanseong.

Judging that the Black Knight was targeting Lee Hanseong, James and Yoo Mirae immediately launched their attacks.

“Seek Life and Live, Seek Death and Die!”

“Uriel’s Judgment!”

James Lee, using the prerogative of a Highest-Rank Awakener, absorbed all the overlapping Spirits into Chungmugong, elevating him to 9-Star, and unleashed the 5th Stage Extreme Polarity Reversal he had heard about from Park Seongcheol.

Yoo Mirae, having concentrated the power of other Spirits into the 9-Star Archangel Uriel, infused the Sword of Truth with the power of earthquakes, volcanoes, thunder, lightning, and Hellfire, wielding the Power of Judgment.

But before their attacks could reach the Black Knight—

Swoosh.

Everything in the vicinity came to a halt.

As Perception accelerated sharply in response to the Black Knight’s full-fledged movement, creating the illusion that time had stopped.

As if walking in a different time alone, the Black Knight’s sword was slowly drawn.

Everyone could only watch the scene helplessly.

Sssst.

And then, the sword moved at a speed that even such Perception couldn’t keep up with.

James and Yoo Mirae, belatedly realizing the result of that movement, were horrified.

Because their best attacks, which they could unleash immediately, had been annihilated by a single sword strike.

“A joyous day. Do not make me shed blood.”

The Black Knight could have cut down not only their attacks but also the Primal Spirit God as much as he wanted, but he didn’t.

He merely severed their will, temporarily incapacitating them.

He didn’t kill them.

Thud. Thud.

As James and Yoo Mirae collapsed, their combat stance instantly dissolved.

Pat.

Jin Taeseong, having noticed the anomaly in the Black Market, appeared in a form reminiscent of a Grim Reaper.

He was prepared to risk the danger of Reversal and draw upon the power of a 10-Star Spirit if necessary.

“Black Knight, what is your purpose in coming to my Spirit Domain?”

Since the Black Knight didn’t seem intent on attacking immediately, he planned to resolve the situation through dialogue if possible.

“The master of the Black Market, I see. I have no intention of attacking this place, so do not concern yourself.”

“If you have no intention of attacking, then what is your purpose?”

“I have come to meet my lost master once again.”

“Master… you say?!”

An existence the Black Knight called master!

Everyone listening to his words was startled.

Simultaneously, emboldened by the Black Knight’s compliant attitude, Jang Wei interjected.

“Then why are you interfering with our sacred Hundred-Man Slaughter?”

The Grade that had dominated the area when he first appeared was now directed solely at Lee Hanseong and Choi Sangguk.

Thus, the two were in a state where they couldn’t move an inch, as if surrounded by swords.

“Hundred-Man Slaughter? That’s none of my concern.”

Clank… clank…

Having said that, the Black Knight leisurely walked and approached Lee Hanseong.

Merely by walking, no Highest-Rank Awakener dared to block his path.

Lee Hanseong, who had been watching the Black Knight with his Insightful Eye from the beginning, finally realized why such an outcome had occurred.

‘Heart Sword…!’

His very footsteps were no different from swinging a sword.

Upon hearing his footsteps, any thoughts of interference were severed from everyone’s minds.

Whoosh,

The Black Knight raised his sword between Lee Hanseong and Choi Sangguk, wrapping it in pitch-black Gang Qi.

And the pitch-black Gang Qi gradually turned ashen.

Seeing this, a glint appeared in the Black Knight’s eyes, but soon a sense of disappointment lingered.

“It seems the Gate of Primordial Origin hasn’t fully opened yet.”

The Black Knight’s gaze turned toward Lee Hanseong’s eyes.

A look as if trying to see through his inner self.

Conversely, Lee Hanseong also read the Black Knight’s inner self with his Insightful Eye.

‘Goodwill and loyalty, suspicion and expectation?’

The Black Knight’s inner self resembled the Sword Demon’s but was different in some ways.

The former two were directed toward Mirinae.

The latter two were directed toward Lee Hanseong.

“We will meet again soon. Do not disappoint me then as you have now. Successor.”

Swoosh.

Having said that, the Black Knight swung his sword and cut through the Boundary Layer.

The Black Knight vanished through the gap in the opened space.

His parting words rippled through, unsettling the hearts of the Highest-Rank Awakeners.

‘Successor? Did Lee Hanseong and the Black Knight have some relationship?’

‘Is this a ploy to drive a wedge between the Heavenly Palace and Lee Hanseong?’

‘Was the Heresy Constellation that Lee Hanseong serves related to Unchain?’

Amidst everyone’s confusion.

The Grade that had bound Choi Sangguk and Lee Hanseong also disappeared, and the interrupted Life-and-Death Duel resumed.

* * *

Whoosh.

The immediate priority was blocking the strike Choi Sangguk had been gathering until now.

A fatal strike that would take ten lives at once if hit.

But thanks to the Black Knight’s brief visit, a way to block it had emerged.

“Spatiotemporal Theft.”

Burning one life, he brought forth the Slash the Black Knight had used to parry James and Yoo Mirae’s attacks moments ago.

Sssst.

Despite having gathered it for quite some time, the power Choi Sangguk had concentrated vanished all too easily.

It was only natural.

The Black Knight’s single sword strike had already touched the Sword Demon’s Formless Sword.

“You, what exactly is your relationship with the Black Knight?”

Already uneasy due to the Black Knight’s meaningful words, Choi Sangguk wore a bewildered expression as Lee Hanseong replicated the Black Knight’s single sword strike.

“Even if I said we have no relationship… you wouldn’t believe me, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then there’s no need to talk further.”

Once again, he used Spatiotemporal Theft to bring forth the Heart Sword that had melted into the Sword Demon’s footsteps.

Clank… clank…

While Choi Sangguk was incapacitated by the effect of the Heart Sword, which severed the opponent’s mind more surely than even Mind-Severing Heavenly Penetration.

“Victory Without Fighting”

He incapacitated Choi Sangguk’s consciousness once more, as his fighting spirit vanished.

Though a 10-Star Grade could break free quickly.

Bang-bang-bang-bang…!

He drove eight stakes into the Primal Spirit God, whose resistance had vanished due to the Eight Gates Sealing Stake, shaking its Grade.

“Divine Fall, Consecutive Divine Fall.”

Seizing that opening, he even unleashed the 2nd Stage Spirit Fall, finally causing Choi Sangguk’s Grade to drop to 9-Star.

Up to this point, each time he used Polarity Reversal, he consumed one life, leaving four lives remaining.

“Let’s end this.”

He burned all three remaining lives as reserves to simultaneously perform three Spatiotemporal Thefts.

One brought forth 《Seek Life and Live, Seek Death and Die》 that James Lee had used.

Another brought forth 《Uriel’s Judgment》 that Yoo Mirae had used.

The last one brought forth the single sword strike the Black Knight had used to cut the Boundary Layer before leaving.

Swoosh!

Choi Sangguk’s Primal Spirit God, having fallen into the Imaginary Space beyond the Boundary Layer, met death from Seek Death and Die, and even resurrection was blocked by Uriel’s Judgment.

Though he had borrowed others’ power, he had ultimately defeated a Highest-Rank Awakener.

“You should declare victory. Jang Wei.”

He called out to Jang Wei, who was blinking as if unable to believe Choi Sangguk’s death.

Reluctantly, as if forcing out the words, Jang Wei spat them out.

“…Hmm. I acknowledge that Lee Hanseong, thou who hast won a hundred Life-and-Death Duels, hast completed the Hundred-Man Slaughter.”

Thump!

With Jang Wei’s acknowledgment, the long Hundred-Man Slaughter finally came to an end.

And then.

The Feats acquired during the Hundred-Man Slaughter began to scroll before his eyes.

[Great Feat, ‘Hundred-Man Slaughter (Hundred-Man Slaughter)’ achieved!]

[Great Feat, ‘Highest-Rank Awakener Kill’ achieved!]

[Feat, ‘High-Rank Awakener Slayer’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘High-Rank Awakener Kill’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Mid-Rank Awakener Slayer’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Hundred Battles, Hundred Victories’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Consecutive Wins’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Ultra-Rapid Growth’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Rapid Growth’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Subordinate’s Rebellion’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Master of One-on-One’ achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Master of Reversal’ achieved.]

“Ahh.”

He felt a total of twelve Feats accumulating in his soul.

The problem was that despite accumulating several Feats, including Great Feats, 5-Star Awakening was still far off.

It felt like he needed to accumulate more Feats of a similar level to the present ones.

Just as the Feats required for Awakening had drastically increased between 2-Star and 3-Star.

The Feats required for Awakening had also drastically increased between 4-Star and 5-Star.

“Choi Sangguk!!”

Just as he was savoring the new Feats.

Someone called out to the already dead Choi Sangguk and made a new appearance.

“Father?”

“Hanseong?”

It was Association Head Lee Hyeonseong, who had been tracking Choi Sangguk in the Underground.

“Choi Sangguk’s traces definitely led this way…?”

Lee Hyeonseong, having unexpectedly encountered his son, looked around to grasp the situation.

His eyes widened at the sight of four Highest-Rank Awakeners gathered.

“What on earth is going on here?”

“Your son killed Choi Sangguk as the final opponent in the Hundred-Man Slaughter.”

At Jin Taeseong’s explanation, Lee Hyeonseong’s mouth fell open.

He wore an expression of disbelief.

“Is that really true?”

“That’s not the problem. The Black Knight appeared here.”

“The Black Knight! The Black Knight of Unchain?”

“Fortunately, he left without causing major trouble, but…”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It seems your son and the Black Knight have some kind of relationship.”

When Jin Taeseong directly stated what the other Highest-Rank Awakeners had only suspected, everyone looked at Jin Taeseong with surprised expressions.

“What does that mean? If you don’t explain properly, I won’t stand idly by either.”

At the words casting suspicion on his son, Lee Hyeonseong abandoned formal speech and retorted.

In response, Jin Taeseong explained what he had observed since the Black Knight’s appearance and the words he had spoken.

That the Black Knight had come here to find his master.

That the Black Knight had called Lee Hanseong his Successor.

That Lee Hanseong’s armor, Gang Qi, and Swordsmanship resembled the Black Knight’s, and so on.

When he recounted all the suspicious points without omission, Lee Hyeonseong also looked at his son with a serious expression.

Even he had to admit the circumstances were indeed suspicious.

“Can you explain this?”

At Lee Hyeonseong’s question, the other Highest-Rank Awakeners all looked at Lee Hanseong as well.

Especially, Yoo Mirae’s eyes were imbued with a pure white light that discerned truth.

Faced with the gazes of five Highest-Rank Awakeners, Lee Hanseong took a moment to choose his words.

“Hmm.”

Considering what to reveal and what to conceal, he began his explanation.

“First, let me make one thing clear. This is the first time I’ve met the Black Knight.”

“That’s the truth.”

“But just because the two haven’t met doesn’t mean there’s no relationship, right? For example, serving the same Constellation.”

Though Yoo Mirae vouched for the truth, Jang Wei interjected with a gleam in his eye.

“That’s right. Young Hanseong, what Constellation do you serve?”

“I don’t know what Constellation it is. She didn’t reveal her Constellation Name. However, my Constellation has used a wheel before.”

It was also true that Lee Hanseong didn’t know about his Constellation.

Because the Constellation Name had been erased from his memory upon Regression.

Moreover, it was also true that he had used the Wheel Constellation’s wheel during Regression.

“Everything you said is true, but are you saying Young Hanseong’s Constellation is the Wheel Constellation?”

“I can’t be sure unless the Constellation reveals it. And the Black Knight clearly said ‘lost’ master. What he found may not necessarily be the Constellation he currently serves.”

“Then, could it be the Brilliance Constellation?”

The Black Knight was once a Holy Knight who had chosen the Brilliance Constellation.

Jang Wei, having sensed Lee Hanseong’s intention to cleverly evade, dug into the essence.

“Just answer this. Is your Constellation a Heresy or not?”

If he answered no here, it would be revealed as a lie.

Lee Hanseong didn’t know Mirinae’s Constellation Name, but he knew for certain she wasn’t one of the Heavenly Palace’s Twelve Constellations.

As he hesitated over how to answer—

—Say no. It wouldn’t be wrong to say I belong to the Heavenly Palace.

Mirinae told him the answer he should give.

“No. My Constellation is indeed a Constellation of the Heavenly Palace.”

“This is also the truth.”

Jang Wei frowned as if not understanding the unexpected answer.

And Lee Hyeonseong was equally surprised.

Lee Hyeonseong had been inwardly convinced his son’s Constellation was on the Heresy side.

Come to think of it, Lee Hanseong had said no to the question of whether it was a Heresy.

But he had also said it was a Constellation he didn’t know.

There was no way Lee Hyeonseong wouldn’t know the Twelve Constellations.

‘Does the Heavenly Palace have a thirteenth Constellation besides the Twelve Constellations?’

Lee Hyeonseong, without revealing what he had realized, muttered an opinion defending his son.

“I think the master the Black Knight spoke of refers to the Brilliance Constellation, which he served before the Spirit that possessed him was expelled from the Heavenly Palace.”

“Then how do you explain Lee Hanseong’s Swordsmanship or the word Successor?”

As if still unable to shake off suspicion, Jang Wei persistently pressed on.

“The Swordsmanship was merely obtained through Legendary Equipment imbued with the power of the Darkness Constellation. Isn’t it just that it coincidentally matches the Black Knight’s Swordsmanship, so he called me Successor?”

At Lee Hanseong’s brazen answer, Jang Wei tried to argue further, but.

“Power is merely power. The same power differs depending on who wields it. Let the interrogation end here.”

“Hmm. Understood.”

With Lee Hyeonseong blocking the way, he could raise no further questions.

Whoosh!

But then, an intense vibration spread from Lee Hanseong’s chest.

It was a vibration originating from the Heavenly Demon Medallion.